Product Description

It wasn't Cassie Haddon's fault that she had managed to reach the age of twenty-five without possessing any useful skills. Until the war, she had always had servants to wait on her. Since then, she and her widowed mother had moved from place to place, relying on family to care for them. Now she's forced to find work to support them both. What isn't in her plans is falling for Jacob West, a local restaurateur and grocer. She needs a job and he needs help. But what they both need is love.

Publisher's Description

Following the Civil War, a suitor from Cassie Haddon's privileged past threatens her budding attraction to Jacob West, a local business owner.

Author Bio

Ann Shorey is the author of the At Home in Beldon Grove series, Where Wildflowers Bloom, and When the Heart Heals. She has also published selections in the Cup of Comfort series and in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul. Ann and her husband make their home in southwestern Oregon. Learn more at www.annshorey.com.

Loves Sweet Beginning was a wonderful love story. The third book in the Sisters at Heart series tells the story of a once-privileged young woman and her journey to make a better life. At the end of the Civil War, Cassie Haddon and her mother are left to bounce between relatives. When her mother receives word that her Uncle Rand had been spotted in Noble Springs, they head straight there. But things dont quite work out and Cassie ends up trying to make a living and falling in love with the local grocer, Jacob West.

I thought this was a cute story, though it did have many lessons folded within the pages. Among which was how the interpretation of verses is important. Although Loves Sweet Beginnings is the third book in the series, I was able to read it as a stand alone without having read the first two books. Its a good and easy read and will leave you happy at the end.

I received this book from the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

How can a young woman raised in wealth and privilege survive the reversal her family faces following the Civil War? Cassie Haddon and her mother must deal with loss of home and loved ones, along with no income. Cassie decides they can't depend on the charity of others so she must find a way to support the two of themâ€”only she has no marketable skills. Her determination carries her through landing and learning a new job and dealing with two suitors, who both lay claim to her heart.

Cassie's demanding mother threatens to derail Cassie's life, but she feels she must honor and obey her motherâ€”even though Mother is often manipulative. They do come to respect and appreciate each other as their relationship gradually matures.

This third Sisters at Heart novel stands alone with strong characters, some of whom we met in previous books in the series. The touching story sweeps to a satisfying conclusion, which you'll have to read for yourself to discover.

I have not read all of Ann Shorey's books yet, but Love's Sweet Beginning is my favorite so far. I really enjoyed getting to read Cassie's story. I liked her character from the previous book and I was hoping she would be getting a story all her own. Being 25 years old and not able to do basic tasks, and relying on the wisdom of her mother, was not a nice place for her to be. As she and her mother find themselves homeless, Cassie decides that she has a backbone after all and sets out to find a job and a home for the both of them. In comes our very gruff grocer and restaurant owner Jacob West. I truly enjoyed watching as there sweet love story unfolded and how good they were for each other. As I said, this is a very sweet love story but it did have its complications. With a mother still wanting control, a suitor who will not take no for an answer, an uncle she didn't know she had, and Jacob's past invading the present, you have a very bumpy road to happily ever after. I received this book from The Book Club Network, Inc. and the opinions are my own.

This was a wonderfully sweet historical with some surprising twists and turns. To be honest, it was the first line in the book blurb that caught my attention, "It isn't Cassie Haddon's fault that she has reached the age of twenty-five without possessing any useful skills." Since I wasn't familiar with Ann Shorey's books I didn't know if they were sweet romantic historicals or funny ones or dramatic. I was pleasantly surprised to find all three were elements of this enjoyable story.

Love's Sweet Beginning has everything going for it, a skilled author, a nice storyline, enjoyable characters, and even a lovely cover.

I really liked Cassie. She starts out as a young woman who is obedient to her mother to a fault but by the end of the book she has become a spunky and independent young lady. Watching her grow and change through the story was fun.

Jacob is good man, and hardworking to a fault, kind to his employees. I liked how the author portrayed Jacob as a man trying to do what is right but also making mistakes. Through the book God gently tugs him towards finding his own faith.

Ann Shorey is quite good at creating a variety of characters and eliciting the reader's emotions involving them, you will find yourself rooting for some and totally disliking others. I got so involved in the story that I hardly got anything else done. I was also a perfect bedtime read, I read quite a few enjoyable pages while tucked under one of Grandma's quilts.

(I received a copy of this book from Revell through The Book Club Network for my honest review. All opinions are my own)

Love's Sweet Beginning is a great historical romance. It shows what faith and determination can do when faced with adversity. The book is the third one in the Sisters at Heart series. But it can be read alone and enjoyed. I had to read the first two books after enjoying this one so much.

I recieved this book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.